Talk:Duala people

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Zuni girl; photograph by Edward S. Curtis, 1903 This article falls within the scope of WikiProject Ethnic groups, a WikiProject interested in improving the encyclopaedic coverage and content of articles relating to ethnic groups, nationalities, and other cultural identities. If you would like to help out, you are welcome to drop by the project page and/or leave a query at the project's talk page.
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[edit] 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica article

I just merged some this article, once located at Bakweri, to the Duala peoples article. Much of this is racist or flat-out wrong, however (are we talking about human beings or Ewoks?), so I left much of it out. BrianSmithson 18:00, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

Bakweri, a Bantu nation of German Cameroon, West Africa. According to tradition they are migrants from the eastward. The "Brushmen," for that is the meaning of their name, are grouped in about sixty separate clans. They are a lively intelligent people, brave fighters and daring hunters, and in their love of songs, music and elocution are superior to many negro races. Their domestic affections are strongly developed. Their chief physical peculiarity is the great disparity between the size and complexion of the sexes, most of the women being much shorter and far lighter in colour than the men. The Ba-Kwiri are generous and open-handed among themselves; but the law of blood for blood is mercilessly fulfilled, even in cases of accidental homicide. Their religion is ancestor-worship blended with witchcraft and magic. They believe in good and evil spirits, those of the forests and seas being especially feared. In common with their neighbours the Duala the Ba-Kwiri possess a curious drum language. By drum-tapping news is conveyed from clan to clan. Slaves and women are not allowed to master this language, but all the initiated are bound to repeat it so as to pass the messages on. The Ba-Kwiri have also a horn language peculiar to themselves.

This article was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. As such, it may not yet be properly adapted to Wikipedia. For example, they seem to be known as "Bakweri" now.

[edit] Refocusing article

To explain the cuts and changes I made to the article: I had originally attempted to make this article about all ethnic groups who speak one of the Duala languages. However, I now realize that this was a mistake. None of my sources lumps them all together, so it is unfair to do so here. There is more than enough information to write long, fully fleshed-out articles about the Duala, Isubu, Bakweri, Mungo, etc. Thus, I've refocused this article to be about the people who, in the previous incarnation of this article, were referred to as the "Duala proper". I will spin the cut material off into articles on the other ethnic groups soon. My apologies, — BrianSmithson 15:59, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reverts

I've reverted some changes by User:Esimo. The changes added some unsourced images (good images, but ones for which the source and copyright status were not given), added some language that violates the neutral point of view policy (calling the Bamileke "invasive" and Rudolf Duala Manga Bell a "patriot"), removed random mentions of the Limba people and their language (mentions that were backed by sources), and added a link to a blog, which is against our external links policy. I hope Esimo will check out the policy pages I've linked to for further information. — BrianSmithson 22:45, 23 November 2006 (UTC)